Container



J. E. PAGE Aug. 7, 1934.

CONTAINER Filed Dec. :16, 1931 2 Slieet-Sheet l INVENTOR Juhzz fines] Tae ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1934. J E, PAGE 9 1,969,030

CONTAINER Filed Dec. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I INVENTOR ATTORNEYSPatented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,969,030 CONTAINERApplication December 16, 1931, Serial No. 581,309

8 Claims.

- This invention relates to containers and to a method of making same.

In the packing of products for the market, the cost of an adequatecontainer must be kept as low as possible if the purchaser is to receivethe maximum of value in the product purchased. Where the container ismade by one manufacturer and shipped to the packer, as is often thecase, the cost of the container to the packer and finally to theconsumer is greatly influenced by shipping costs of the container. .Ifthe containers are so made that they do not permit of collapse ornestled packing, the shipping and storage charges of the emptycontainers is often very high and even may be prohibitive. Then thecontainer must be so designed as to permit economical manufacture. Inaddition, the container must be adequate in strength to withstand allthe rigors of use, and so made as to fully protect and preserve thecontents. All of these factors must be taken into consideration if theconsumer is to receive maximum value in useful merchandise for moneyexpended.

In the packaging of many products, such as fruits, canned goods,liquids, ice cream and frozen products, cereals, hardware, groceries orany other commodity, wood or metal cans and containers have been used.Such metal cans and other containers are expensive to manufacture, shipand store and greatly influence the cost of the packed product to theconsumer. In the packaging of looseice cream in quantities of from oneto ten gallons, for example, metal containers only have been used sincethese containers must be very strong and sturdy to carry the heavyfrozen product. These cans are very expensive to manufacture and ship inthe first instance and after the frozen cream contents have been removedthey must be gathered together by the retailer or consumer, and shippedor returned to the ice cream plant. Then they must be -washed,sterilized and cleaned before they are again ready for use, all of whichadds considerably to the price of the ice cream product. Furthermore,the empty, unwashed cans require considerable storage space, attractflies, and apt to produce an unsanitary condition in and around the icecream plant. Records must also be kept of the containers delivered,returned and to be rea container which is unusually sturdy and strong inconstruction, and which will carry the weight of heavy materials andwithstand the rigors of rough handling, which is economical tomanufacture, .which fully protects and preserves the contents, and whichcan be made attractive and pleasing in design and appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container so shaped as topermit close nestling, one container within the other, which is light inweight and which is furthermore provided with means for firmly retaininga closure cover thereon.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a method formanufacturing the container above described economically and quicklywith unskilled labor, and with inexpensive tools and equipment.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosureproceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 shows ablank from which the barrel or body portion of my container may beformed;

Fi 2 shows a cutout blank from which the bottom portion of my containermay be formed;

Fig. 3 is a face view of my body forming blank as it appears during onestage of the'containerforming operation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the body forming blank inthe form shown in Fig. 3, this view being taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the body portion and bottom portion of my container ascompletely formed and ready to be assembled together;

Fig. 6 shows the barrel and bottom portions of my container in theprocess of assembly;

Fig. 7 shows another step in the process of assembling the bottomportion and barrel portion of my container;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view through the completedcontainer;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a container of somewhat modified shapebut having the general structural features of the container shown inFigs. 5 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view through a plurality of my containersas they appear when nestled together.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

A barrel forming blank 10 is cut in the general arcuate shape shown inFig. 1. This blank may be made of fibrous, paper board or cardboardmaterial, depending upon the use to which the container is to be put. Ifthe container is to carry liquid or semi-liquid material, or materialswhich deteriorate through contact with the air, I prefer to wax-thefibrous material on the inside or the outside of the container, or both,or use a moisture-proof board. The blank is provided with a score line11 which is spaced 9. short distance from and parallel to the lower edgeof the blank, defining the lower edge portion 15. A score line 12 spaceda short distance from and parallel to the upper edge of the blank,defines the upper edge portion 14.

In forming the container, 1 bend the top edge portion 14 and the loweredge portion 15 inwardly so as, to overlap the main body portion of theblank, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which is done while the blank is stillextended. The top edge portion 14 is bent so that it will be disposed onthe outside of the finished container. The blank 10 is then shaped intobarrel or tubular form, as shown in Fig. 5, with the side edges 20 and21 of the blank overlapping. These edges can then be wire stapled as at22 or thread sewn together, as desired. In the manufacture of someclasses of containers which do not require a lid portion the top edgeportion 14 can be eliminated altogether.

The bottom portion of the container is made from a disc shaped blank 16,as shown in Fig. 2. The disc shaped blank may be made of the samematerial as the barrel portion 10,.or it may be made of a stronger ormore durable material, such as metal, if desired. The bottom blank 16 isprovided with a flange portion 17 defined from the main bottom portionby score line 18. The flange portion 17 may be notched at various pointsalong its periphery, as at 19, so that the flange can be bent downwardlyinto the general form shown in Fig. 5.

As the next step in the container-forming operation, the bottom portion16 is placed on the end 23 of a conical shaped block 24, asshown in Fig.6. The bodyportion of the container, bent into tubular form as' shown inFig. 5, is then plugged down over the conical shaped block 24, as shownin Fig. 6, until the top edge of the flange 17 is in line with thescored line M. The flanges 15 are then turned in and over the lugs orflange 1'7. When the desired fit has been obtained between the bottomportion 16 and the body portion 10, and while the container is still onthe forming block 24, the flanges 17 of the bottom portion may bestapled or sewn to the inturned edge portion 15 and the body portion ofthe blank, as shown in Fig. 7. This stapling --or stitching operationcan be quickly performed by automatic machinery. The completed containermay then be removed from the forming block and nestled together withsimilar containers as shown in Fig. 10.

The container may also be made without stitching or stapling along thelower rim by simply turning the flange 15 inward and over the lugs 1'1which allows the lugs 1'1 to rest in the recess formed by the flange 15and the inside of the body container. In such cases the notches 13 arenot cut out of the flange 15, the weight of the contents when placed inthe container being sumcient to keep the bottom portion 16 in position.This type is particularly useful for packing solids, ice cream, andother materials.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 7 that the top flange portion orrim 14 does not hug the side walls of the container, but extendsdownwardly in plumb vertical position. The downturned rim 14 presents anexcellent seat for any cover 26 which may be used, since the verticalflanges 27 of the cover will seat smoothly and tightly against the rim.The difliculty of providing a close fit between a conical container andthe cover therefor is thus satisfactorily solved in an inexpensive andeconomical manner. The downturned rim portion 14 also provides astiflening flange around the top of the container which greatlystrengthens the same and prevents inward collapse of the side walls.Furthermore, the rim portion 14, spaced from the side walls, as shown inFig. 8, provides an excellent finger grip for lifting and handling thecontainer.-

The bottom of the container is strongly constructed and is provided witha three ply rein= forcing rim at the bottom. The bottom portion of thecontainer presents a smooth continuation of the side walls. Containerscan thus nestle closely one within the other, as shown in Fig. 10, sothat a large number of containers can be stored or shipped in a verysmall space.

I have shown in Fig. 9 a container of polygonal shape which may beformed from a blank similar to Fig. 1, except that radiating score linesare provided which form the corners 28 of the body portion of thecontainer. The bottom and top edges of the blank are arcuatedpolygonally rather than in circular form as is the case of thecylindrical container. The bottom portion is also of such a shape as toconform to the side walls, but the general method of making thecylindrical, the polygonal, or any other shaped container is the same.

It is now seen that I have provided a container which may be made into anumber of pleasing forms and designs without affecting the structuralstrength or efliciency thereof. The containers are so made as to closelynestle one within the other, thus economizing in shipping and storagecosts. It is usually strong and sturdy and adequately reinforced wherethe strain is the greatest. The container is provided with asubstantially leak-proof bottom and thus can be used to contain frozenliquid and semi-liquid materials, powdered or granular goods. Thecontainer can be manufactured by automatic machinery at such low cost asto permit with economy the discarding of the container after having oncebeen used for packaging bulk ice cream, or any other commodity. Theunsanitary packaging of ice cream, for example, in returned metalliccontainers which-require the keeping of records, large storage space,washing and cleansing, during which time they are attractive to fliesand other vermin, is thus economically overcome.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed andare pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having a. conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, and a reinforcing rim extending around the outside of thelarger end of the conical portion and formed integral therewith, saidrim being bent into position while said side walls are still in blankextended form.

2. A container having a conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, and a reinforcing rim extending around the outside of thelarger end of the conical portion and formed integral therewith, theside face of said rim extending substantially at right angles to theplane of said larger end, said rim being bent into position before saidside walls are shaped into conical form.

3. A containerhaving a conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, and a reinforcing rim extending around the outside of thelarger end of the conical portion and formed integral therewith, saidrim being spaced from the side walls of said conical portion to providea finger grip by means of which the container may be lifted and moved,said rim being bent into position before the side walls are shaped intoconical form.

4. A container having a conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, a rim extending around the outside of the larger end of theconical portion and formed integral therewith, said rim being bent intoposition before the side walls are shaped into conical form, and a coverhaving a downwardly extending flange adapted to telescope over said rim.

5. A container having a conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, a rim extending around the outside of the larger end of theconical portion and formed integral therewith,

and a cover having a downwardly extending flange adapted to telescopeover said rim, said rim being so shaped as to closely fit within andcontact the free edge of said flange and bent into position before theside walls are shaped into conical form.

6. A container having a conical portion forming the side walls of thecontainer, a rim extending around the outside of the larger end of theconical portion and formed integral therewith, and a cover having adownwardly extending fiangeadapted to telescope over said rim, said rimbeing spaced from the side walls of said conical portion so as toprovide a finger grip and to closely fit within and contact the freeedge of said flange, said rim being bent into position before the sidewalls are shaped into conical form.

7. The method of assembling conical containers which includes, cuttingout the blank to form the side walls of the container, scoring the upperedge of said blank to provide a rim portion, bending said rim portionoutwardly and downwardly, and then securing the side edges of said blanktogether to maintain said blank in tubular form, and securing a bottommember to the lower end of said tube.

8. The method of assembling conical containers which includes, cuttingout the blank to form the side walls of the container, scoring the upperedge of said blank to provide a rim portion, bending said rim portionoutwardly and downwardly, rolling the blank into conical tubular form soas to cause said rim portion'to expand and assume a' verticalcylindrical position, securing the side edges of said bank together tomaintain the blank in conical tubular form, and securing a bottom memberto the lower end of said tube.

JOHN ERNEST PAGE.

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